The following letter was written by George F. Springer (1837-1896), the son of Daniel Spring (1810-1887) and Hannah Coffman Duffee (1815-1892). He wrote the letter to his wife, Maria Sophia Green (1836-1922) who was at home in Chester, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, with their baby daughter, Mary (b. 1862).

George was 24 years old when he enlisted on 4 August 1862 to serve in Co. D, 124th Pennsylvania Infantry—a nine-month’s regiment that was attached to the XII Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The regiment was commanded at Antietam by Colonel Joseph Williamson Hawley, an academy instructor and bank teller from West Chester. He was wounded in the neck early in the morning. Major Isaac Lawrence Haldeman then took over command and led the regiment into Miller’s Cornfield along with other units of the XII Corps on 17 September 1862. They lost 5 killed, 42 wounded, and 17 missing on that day.

My friend John Banks has a great story about another soldier who served in the 124th Pennsylvania who was cut down in Miller’s Cornfield at Antietam. See: Antietam soldier snapshot: “I thought it was all with me.”

Transcription

Maryland Heights near Harper’s Ferry
Friday, September 26th 1862

My dear Sophie,

We have received no mail yet but expect one every day as the cars run this far but no farther, but not regular yet. I continue to write to you every two or three days so you may know I am well, hoping that you get my letters. I sent one letter for you by Jm. C. Beatty who left here yesterday having been here for a couple of days. There have been several Delaware county folks here lately come to see their friends & to explore the late battlefield & pick up such things as they can find as relics, &c. We have been here for some time as the place must be garrisoned by some force & why not ours I cannot tell. We have worked hard since we have been out & had as hard marching as any of the old troops. Indeed, one of the three years men told one of our officers that we have done as much in our six or seven weeks as some of them did in nine months.

This place we now occupy was held by Gen. Miles who surrendered to the rebels all his men, ammunition, guns, &c.—a traitor in every sense of the word is he pronounced by almost everybody.

There is one division of our army over on the other side of the river just opposite us. The river is not deep but can be waded almost anywhere. It is quite like the Susquehanna—full of rocks, &c., but not half so wide with steep banks or mountains on each side. The Rebels occupy a line on the other side of about ten miles in length & eight miles from the river reach[ing] from Charlestown down to the Point of Rocks. This is the third time that the Rebels have burned the bridge here & they said that they would do it again when we had it rebuilt.

I do not know how they will live in Virginia as there is nothing growing there & they cannot have much ammunition except what they took from here. They also got some provision in Maryland. They shot railroad iron at the Battle of Antietam a part of the time. As I told you before, the country is delightful around here—mountains, hills, and rivers. When you are up here, it is a beautiful sight & still higher up on the top of the mountain there is a observatory used for military purpose (we are not on the highest point).

The nights are beginning to get cold though we have been having very good weather. We have no tents—only what we have made ourselves out of bushes, India rubber, blankets, and some small portable tents which some of the men got on the battlefield. I make out pretty well having both my blankets & two shirts while some of the men have but one and threw away their blankets upon going into the battle. But I held on to mine thinking that I might never see them again & not caring to use any that I might pick up.

I suppose that there has been quite a time in Delaware County lately about the invasion of Maryland. Do you not wish that I had waited & went with the militia so that I would have been home by this time? If we stay here, however, I can make out very well, but I hate the long marches. Tell me how you are coming on. How is the baby & Esther. And have you Lizzie yet? Tell her to fix a place in the stable for the chickens to roost & leave the door open for them early in the afternoon for if they have to roost out doors when the nights are cold, they are apt to stray off. You had better try & get corn after a while from home & feed them. Next month will do.

Tell Anna I will write to her if I can get more paper. Give my love to all at home. Kiss little Mary for me & tell me how she is—poor little dear—for I dreamt that she was sick last night.

Direct the same as heretofore until I let you know. Have you heard from Phipp’s lately? And who has been to see you. I am well & hope you are. Be of good cheer. Remember I am with you in heart if not in person. Put your trust in the Lord & He will bless you & George.

P. S. Please send me a dollar in a letter as I have no change.

Saturday 27th. Yours of the 18th & 21st came to hand last evening & I was glad to hear from you but am very sorry that the baby is still sick.